The No. 1 option for many people around the country and the world for the Aug. 21 event is St. Joseph. That’s because the city 50 miles north of Kansas City falls smack in the sweet spot of the 70-mile-wide swath across 14 states in which the moon will completely cover the sun.

St. Joseph is bracing for tens of thousands — perhaps hundreds of thousands — of visitors. The city previously best known as the starting point of the Pony Express and the ending point of outlaw Jesse James’ life will be doing it up big for the big event (see the list below).

But plenty of other places within a relatively short drive of Kansas City will be prime viewing areas, and many have multiple-day events planned. Lathrop and Excelsior Springs in Missouri and Atchison, Kan., are among them.

Even though Kansas City itself and its immediate suburbs won’t experience the eclipse as completely as places to the north, it will be easy to find local celebrations and viewing parties. Independence Square, Union Station and the City Market are likely to be popular places Aug. 21.

If nothing else, you can grab your protective glasses, go in the front yard and look up.

Or don’t even go outside. NASA Television will offer real-time coverage of the event from coast to coast. The program will include images of the eclipse from the International Space Station and other spacecraft, as well as from high-altitude aircraft and balloons, and ground observations.